September 10, 2010
Tech tops Toppers for fifth straight victory
Justine Record notches 600th career kill
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Virginia Tech (7-1) 25272220153
Western Kentucky University (5-3) 2225252582
  • E. A. Diddle Arena

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Virginia Tech volleyball team picked up its first away win of the season this afternoon, facing the host of the Western Kentucky Tournament, the Lady Toppers, in its second of three matches this weekend. Propelled by 17 kills and six blocks by senior Felicia Willoughby, the Hokies defeated the Lady Toppers 3-2 (25-22, 27-25, 22-25, 20-25, 15-8), lifting them to 7-1 (0-0 ACC) on the season, while the Lady Toppers fall to 5-3 (0-0 Sun Belt).

The Lady Toppers got off to a strong start, taking an early 7-3 lead, but the Hokies then went on a 5-1 run to tie the score at eight. The next 24 plays were extremely close, neither team claiming a lead larger than two, and before they new it, the set was tied 20-20. Jennifer Wiker notched back-to-back kills for the Hokies to put Tech up 22-20, and three subsequent attack errors by the Lady Toppers gave the Hokies a 25-22 victory in the first set.

The Hokies jumped out to an 8-3 lead in the second set and held onto their advantage throughout the majority of the frame for a late 23-19 lead. The Toppers then got to work, scoring four unanswered points and tying the set at 23. Justine Record next notched her 600th career kill to put the Hokies up 24-23, but Emily Teegarden followed with a kill of her own to tie the score 24-24. Record added another kill to give the Hokies a second chance at set-point, but Lindsay Williams tied the score once again for the Toppers. Felicia Willoughby put the Hokies at set-point for the third time, and this time, an attack error from Lindsay Willaims closed the door, handing the Hokies a 27-25 win and a 2-0 lead in the match.

The third set was tight all the way through and soon was tied 21-21. Back-to-back kills by Paige Wessel put the Toppers up 23-21, and though Jennifer Wiker registered a kill to bring the Hokies within one, two kills by Jordyn Skinner put the set away for the Toppers, keeping them in the match down 2-1.

Tech took any early lead in set four, but after tying it 12-12, the Lady Toppers took their first lead of the set and never looked back, soon going up 20-16 and taking the set 25-20 and tying the match 2-2.

Suddenly facing elimination, the Hokies turned it around in the tie-breaker, opening the final set with four straight points and strolling to a 15-8 win and a 3-2 match victory.

Felicia Willoughby led the match with a season-high 17 kills and a .444 attack percentage. She also stuffed six blocks, two solo, elevating her career total to 467 and vaulting her past Katie Esbrook ’06 (461) into second place all-time for the Hokies in total blocks. The senior middle blocker, who broke the Hokies’ all-time block assists record last weekend at the Hilton Garden Hokie Invitational, needs 28 more by the end of the season to become the Hokies’ all-time leader in total blocks.

Cara Baarendse notched an impressive 14 kills, Jennifer Wiker added 11, and Justine Record, who slammed her 600th career kill in the second set, recorded 10 total in the match. Erin Leaser lent a hand with a season-high 48 assists, and Amy Wengrenovich registered a career-high 26 digs.

The team stuffed a season-high total of 15 blocks in the match, aided by six blocks each from Willoughby and Wiker. Wiker earned a career-high four block solos, and Willoughby and Baarendse had two apiece for a season-high eight solo blocks in the match.

The Hokies look for another tournament sweep tomorrow evening against Missouri at 5 p.m. Livestats will available on www.wkusports.com.

For updates on Virginia Tech volleyball, follow the Hokies on Twitter (@VT_VBall).

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